DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Systematics of the Enigmatic Wasp Family Evaniidae

摘要小蜂(膜翅目：小蜂科)是蟑螂卵的一种多彩、常见、可识别的寄生虫，但一直被系统学家和进化生态学家所忽视。未来对伊蚊的研究的主要障碍是目前的分类，这是过时和不充分的。这个项目的目的是全面改革昆虫分类，调查该科内部以及它与其他主要膜翅目类群之间的系统发育关系，并利用这些关系在进化背景下检查几个现象。在第一部分中，将根据已收集的大量材料进行修订，并在对几个主要博物馆的模式标本进行检查后，使用新的分类来构建世界物种目录。在第二部分中，将利用5个基因(16S、COI、28S、LW Rh和1个新基因)的DNA序列数据以及形态特征来评估这些属之间的系统发育关系。在第三部分中，将利用已经在膜翅目中广泛使用的三个基因(16S、COI和28S)的DNA序列数据来估计膜翅目与其他膜翅目超家族(重点是膜翅目)之间的关系。第一部分到第三部分的结果不仅有助于提出新的和更具预测性的分类，而且对于研究这些黄蜂产卵行为的进化以及它们的生物地理史都是有用的。在本论文项目期间，将培训一位有前途的年轻系统学家，工作结果也将对NSF资助的关于巨型昆虫目膜翅目的更大规模的组装生命树项目产生直接影响。伊凡尼科的新属分类将为进一步的分类学和生态学研究开辟这一迷人的类群。

Abstract Ensign wasps (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae) are colorful, frequently collected, and recognizable parasites of cockroach eggs, yet they have been relatively neglected by systematists and evolutionary ecologists. The main obstacle to future research on evaniids is the current classification, which is outdated and inadequate. The intent of this project is to overhaul evaniid taxonomy, investigate the phylogenetic relationships within the family and between it and other major Hymenopteran groups, and to use the relationships to examine several phenomena in an evolutionary context. In part I, a revision of evaniid genera will be conducted based on examination of a large body of material already assembled, and the new classification used to structure a world catalog of species following examination of type specimens in several major museums. In part II, phylogenetic relationships among the genera will be estimated using DNA sequence data from five genes (16S, COI, 28S, LW Rh, and one new gene) along with morphological characters. In Part III, the relationships between Evaniidae and other Hymenopteran superfamilies (emphasizing Evanioidea) will be estimated using DNA sequence data from three genes that have already been widely used across Hymenoptera (16S, COI and 28S). The results of Parts I through III will but useful not only for proposing new and more predictive classifications, but also for investigating the evolution of oviposition behavior in these wasps, as well as their biogeographic history. A promising young systematist will be trained during this dissertation project, and the results of the work will also have immediate impact on the larger NSF-funded Assembling the Tree of Life project on the megadiverse insect order Hymenoptera. The new generiuc classification for Evaniidae will open up this fascinating group to further taxonomic and ecological study.